A LARGE-SCALE development in St Clears has been given the go ahead despite warnings it may be illegal.

Members of the county council's planning committee followed council officers' recommendations to approve the Station Road development submitted by agents GVA Grimley, on behalf of OJ Williams.

The outline application includes plans for a discount-style retail store with 70 parking spaces, a new GP surgery, a nursing home and residential care units with up to 100 beds, and a car park for up to 35 cars. It is estimated that between 55 and 75 jobs could be created by the development.

St Clears Town Council has previously objected to the application.

While redevelopment of the site was welcomed, the town council felt the proposed surgery was not large enough for the growing population.

Contaminated

Concerns were also expressed about whether an additional food store was required, whether the proposed parking facilities would be sufficient, and that part of the brownfield site might be contaminated from landfill.

The report prepared for members at the planning meeting concluded that policy outweighed the objections.

The application had previously been deferred, pending a site visit.

St Clears town councillor Selwyn Runnett warned committee members they may be breaking the law in approving the application.

He said that the recommendation was being bolstered through policies connected with residential developments rather than regeneration of former business use sites.

Councillor Runnett added: "No planning and development brief has been produced. This brief could have explored all issues and reconciled the different concerns. The planning authority has failed local people in not going down this route.

"The policy is actually wrong in law, if the officers' recommendation is accepted there could be the possibility of a judicial review."

"Approval would be a slap in the face for the people of St Clears."

Members were told that officers considered they were acting in accordance with planning policy.

Members agreed to approve the outline application subject to the inclusion of a footpath.

Speaking after the meeting, Councillor Runnett, a member of St Clears town council's planning committee, said they were hoping to obtain legal advice on the application's approval.

A potential legal challenge is due to be discussed at tonight's meeting of the town council.